Tension device for sewing-machines



(No Model.) 5 Q J. B. HIPWELL.

TENSION. DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 355,529. Patented Jan. 4, 1887.

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WITNESSES:

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-- to such machine.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. HIPWELL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TENSION DEVICEFOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,529, dated January4, 1887.

Application filed lt'larch 4, 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. HIPWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tension Devices forSewing-Machines, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents apartial side elevation and partial vertical section of a tension deviceembodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation at a rightangle to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of a portion inline :0 m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

My invention relates to tension devices for sewing, seaming, or othersimilar machines; and it consists of novel features,' as will behereinafter fully described and definitely claimed.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an arm, which is provided witheither a horizontal or vertical piece, A, slotted or perforated, wherebyit may be attached to a sewing. seaming, or other machine, or a supportadjacent B represents a ledge or bed, which extends horizontally andlaterally from the lower portion of the arm A, and-has a face, 0, whoseupper side is grooved for the passage of thread or yarn from a spool,bobbin, &c., to theiplace of service, said grooves serving as guides,whereby the different threads may be readily kept apart, and alsopermitting a gripping action on the thread without flattening the same,as would be the case if drawn between two fiat surfaces.

At the upper part of the arm is a boss, D, and from the same depends asleeve, E, which is exteriorly threaded. Through said sleeve is freelypassed a spindle, F, the lower end whereof carries a follower, G, whoseunder side has a face, H, it being seen that the latter is above theface 0 and in contact therewith. The upper end of the spindle carries aknob or button, J, whereby the follower G may be readily raised.Encircling the spindle'is a spring, K, whose lower end bears against thefollower G, and the upper end against an ad Serial No. 193.951. (Nomodel.)

justing-nut, L, which, as will be seen, is fitted 0n the sleeve E.

M represents a jam-nut, which is fitted on the sleeve between the nut Land the boss D, and adapted to tighten against said nut L for preventingmotion thereof.

Rising from thearm .A, adjacent to the ledge B, is a guide, N, for thethread or yarn, the same consisting of an arm having eyes or openings,P, located in relation to the faces 0 H.

It will be seen that the follower G may be raised in order to place thethread or yarn between the faces 0 H, after which the follower isdropped, and the thread or yarn under pressure of the follower runs truethrough said faces, and is thus directed to the place of service, itbeing evident that should there be any inequalities in the thread oryarn the follower yields, and thus stoppage or breakage of the thread oryarn is prevented. Should the pressure of the spring be eitherinsufficient or too severe, the nut L is properly rotated, so as tocompress the spring to a greater extent, or relieve the same, as thecase may require, after which said nut is retained in adjusted positionby tightening thejam-nut thereagainst. p

The faces 0 H are formed of glass, which is smooth and durable, notliable to be cut, and

permits the passage of the thread or yarn with but little friction. Theyare connected with the ledge and follower, respectively, by dove tailedjoints, whereby they are securely held in position in a simple manner,and may be readily removed and replaced when worn or broken.

The portion A of the arm A extends diagonally from the boss D, andjoinsthe ledge or bed B at one side thereof. From said side rises a flange,A", which guides the follower in its motions, and the opposite side ofthe bed is free and unobstructed, so that thread or yarn may be readilyintroducedbetween the faces 0 H, or removed there'from,when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire toscure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tension device for sewing-machines, having contact guiding-faces Oand H, and means, substantiallyas described, for adjustably supportingsaid face H, the said face 0 having a groove or grooves across the upperside of the same, all substantially as described.

2. An arm having a boss at top and a ledge or bed at bottom, a threadedsleeve depending from said boss, a spindle passing freely through saidboss and sleeve, a follower connected with the spindle and located overthe led ge,a spring pressing against the follower, an adj usting-nntbearing against the spring, and-contact guiding-plates, said parts beingcombined, as described, forming an improvement in a tension device for asewing, seaming, or-other similar machine.

3. A tension device having the ledge B, with plate 0, the adjustablefollower G, with plate H, and the guide N, secured to the arm A, andhaving openings 1?, all of said parts being combined and arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a tension device for sewing-machines, the arm A, having ahorizontal ledge or bed,

B, with a flange, A, rising from the side of the ledge, in combinationwith a follower, G, supported in said arm A, the said flange A beingadapted to serve as a guide for said follower, all substantially asdescribed.

5. In a tension device, a follower secured to a spindle, the latterprovided with a knob on its upper end, aboss secured to the upper arm ofthe device, a sleeve exteriorly threaded and inserted in said boss, anut adapted to work on said sleeve, a spring bearing on said nut andfollower, the said spindle working in said sleeve, and guiding-plates,one of which is secured to said follower and the other to the ledge orprojection of the arm of the device, all substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

JOHN B. HIPWELL.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN A. \VIEDEnsHniM, A. 1; GRANT.

